March 6

I. Group Sign-Up... READ THE QUESTIONS AT THE RIGHT!At the end of class today, we are going into groups in a workshop style to really dig deeper into the "Pass the Hat" questions that you came up with at the last class. Four will be the maximum number of people who can be in a group... at least two people must connect to count as a group.

II. Please tape your poster to the wall in the designated section. Please take the poster down at the end of class and submit it (this counts as today's assignment)

III. Gallery Walk

Walk the room.

Find at least one piece from each section that strikes your curiosity and/or seems to relate to your section.

Be prepared to write about the pieces that you have chosen.

Be prepared to write about at least 4-5 art pieces.

IV. Reflective Writing & Discussion

V. Group Workshops: Your task today is to talk and come up with an action plan. The facilitator (the first name on the list) will present to the class today.A) What are the main issues here? Who is oppressed, silenced, dehumanized in the issue that your group is discussing? How can you change that? B) Come up with an action plan. Think B.I.G.--- even it seems insane. The laws and policies we take for granted today were unthinkable 50 years ago. Someone had to push through and come up with things that people had never seen or done. BE THOSE PEOPLE!

The action plan could be a new law or policy.

The action plan could be a required college course at JJay that everyone must take (or a class for high schoolers).

The action plan could be a conference or a symposium held at John Jay.

Your Questions from the Last Class's ​"Pass the Hat Activity"

Why do so many women of color learn only about white women/white feminism (or learn first about white feminist)? Why are women of color more silenced?

Can women embrace their sexuality? How does society view female sexuality and why?

Why are women evaluated according solely to a physical standard of beauty?

What makes straight hair, long hair, fair skin, light eyes, etc more appealing in this society than kinky/curly hair, dark eyes and dark skin (this is called colorism)? Where do you see this playing itself out in society? Why does it happen this way?

Many black feminists argue that black women are often stereotyped as loud, angry, aggressive and/or as whores, breeders, and mistresses? Do you think this is true? If so, why do these stereotypes exist? If not, why do so many black feminists make this argument?

Where does the myth of the "strong black woman" come from? In what ways might this be positive and helpful? In what ways might this be harmful and racist? Does the stereotype of the "strong black woman" hurt black women? Does it make them undesirable in a white/male supremacist society? Is it unhealthy for black women to always show a strong image and never allow themselves to be vulnerable? Why or why not?

Do women have the power to publicly respond to men who "catcall"? Is this safe for them? What are men's roles in stopping sexual harassment?

What if men were the ones who were constantly cat-called and sexually harassed? What if the tables were turned? Would it still be tolerated? Why or why not?

Is science important in gender studies? How and why?

How should we fight racism? How should we maneuver around racism? What is the role of feminism in fighting racism?

What is it about Gloria Anzaldua and Audre Lorde that have made them so influential? Why are so many drawn to their writings? Do you agree with their belief that writing should be personal and that you should have political convictions in your writing?